Yaya
Toure scored one and made one as Manchester City took full advantage of Liverpool's slip-up against Chelsea and closed the gap on the Reds to three points.
City
were visibly buoyed by Chelsea's 2-0 win at Anfield, which blew this absorbing
Premier League title race wide open again - and it didn't take City long to
make it an even better day for them.
Toure,
brilliant for the 65 minutes that he was on the field, crafted the fourth
minute opener with a clipped cross for Eden Dzeko, whose powerful header hushed
a boisterous Selhurst Park.
With
half time approaching, Toure doubled City's advantage with a fine solo effort.
The imposing Ivorian's powerful run and quick change of direction allowed him
to arrow a delightful left-footed shot into the top corner.
Palace
lacked the tempo and intensity that had seen them beat Everton and Chelsea in recent weeks, and City held firm on a
day that could be a pivotal one in the title race.
KEY
MOMENTS
4'
- GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Manchester City - Dream start
for City as Toure's delicate cross is powered home by Dzeko's thumping header.
43'
- GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City - Toure scores a fine goal,
powering forward from midfield, shifting the ball onto his left foot and
arrowing a superb left-footed shot into the top corner.
44'
- PALACE CHANCE! Jerome
almost pulls one back straight away, but he cannot quite make contact as the
cross is fizzed in from the right.
47'
- GOOD SAVE! Hart
reacts well as Puncheon's low effort deflects towards the bottom corner.
KEY
STATS
The
Eagles have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 league meetings with
Manchester City.
Six
of Man City’s last seven Premier League goals have come before half-time.
Man
City’s last seven Premier League games in London have produced 27 goals.
TALKING POINT
Is today the day
the title swung into City's hands? Yes. Liverpool's defeat by Chelsea was
the start of a very good day for Manuel Pellegrini's side, who know that
victories over Everton, Aston Villa and West Ham will make it hard for anyone
to stop them. Liverpool need a favour from Everton, but will they provide it?
Yaya Toure
(Manchester City):
Scored one and made one on his return from injury. Has now scored 19 goals from
midfield for City; a fantastic return for a fantastic player.
PLAYER RATINGS
Crystal Palace: Speroni 7,
Mariappa 7, Dann 7, Delaney 6, Ward 6, Jedinak 6, Ledley 6, Bolasie 6, Puncheon
6, Chamakh 7, Jerome 7. Subs: Ince 6, Gayle 6, Murray 6.
Manchester City:
Hart
7, Zabaleta 7, Kompany 7, Demichelis 8, Kolarov 7, Milner 7, Garcia 8, Toure 9,
Nasri 7, Dzeko 8, Aguero 7. Subs: Fernandinho 7, Negredo N/A.
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